200 thousand devotees walked with Mary

CEBU, Philippines —  An estimated 200,000 devotees walked with the image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu dawn yesterday in what the police described as a generally peaceful event.

Most of those who attended started escorting the image from the Fuente Osmeña Circle down to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño but many still walked alongside it starting from the church in Barangay Guadalupe to the Fuente Osmeña Circle.

Cebu City Police Director Engelbert Soriano said the fine weather also allowed the police to carry its security plans out properly.

“Hindi naman umambon so mas maayos kesa doon sa kick off parade nya (It was better because it did not rain, unlike during the kick off parade),” Soriano said, referring to the Walk with Jesus last week.

During the Mass that followed at the Basilica, Fr. Eligio Suico called on devotees to remember the reason why they can be united despite their differences – differences in color, personalities, and perceptions.

"Kung nagstorya ta ug 'Cause of Unity and Charity', kinsa ug unsa man ang hinungdan ngano kita matawag nga suod sa matag-usa? Tungod ni Señor Sto. Niño (If we talk about ‘Cause of Unity and Charity,’ who is the reason why we can be united? It’s the Santo Niño)," Eligio said.

He reminded them that no one walks through life alone.

"Sa atong kinabuhi, naglakaw kita nga wala mag inusara. Naglakaw kita kauban nato, dala nato ang atong mga katuyoan, ang atong mga intensyon, ug labaw sa tanan, ang atong mga minahal sa kinabuhi (In life, we don’t walk alone. We walk bringing with us our purpose, our goals and, above all, we walk with our loved ones),” he said.

From the Basilica, the images of the blessed virgin and the Santo Niño were transported through a motorcade to the National Shrine of Saint Joseph in Mandaue City where the images will stay until midnight before they will be transported back to Cebu City through a fluvial procession early today.

In Mandaue, an estimated 3,000 devotees lined the streets to welcome the motorcade. Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes and officials of the National Shrine of Saint Joseph welcomed the images of the Santo Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu at the boundary of the two cities.

“I wish that the Mandaue will continue to pray for each other and continue be united as one big family," Cortes said.

At 11 a.m., a welcome mass was officiated by Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones.

Past midnight today, the images will be moved to the Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Regla in Lapu-Lapu City in preparation for the fluvial procession.

The fluvial procession will cross the Mactan Channel and bring the images back to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño today in time for the Holy Procession this afternoon.

Except for a female snatcher who was arrested outside the Saint Joseph The Worker Parish, the activities in Mandaue were also undertaken smoothly yesterday.

As more and more activities take place leading to tomorrow’s Grand Parade, Soriano reminded the public to be vigilant.

“Ini-encourage din natin sila na maging vigilant at maging aware sa paligid nila. Pag may nakitang nag-iwan ng bag na wala namang dahilan… kung bakit iniwan or may unattended na mga baggage sa area, every 10 meters po ang police natin kaya sana sabihin agad nila sa amin (We encourage everyone to be vigilant of their surroundings. If they see a bag that’s left behind suspiciously, call our attention immediately. We have cops for every 10 meters),” he said.

An estimated 1,700 cops will be deployed today and about 2,000 during the Grand Parade on Sunday. Karmela Ann Colina , JMO (FREEMAN)